Discover Saturna's Heritage

The Santa Saturnina

History of the Santa Saturnina

The Santa Saturnina was a small ship packed with a crew of 22, but its story is large, extending over 200 years from the late 1700s to the modern era.

What's for Lunch on a Ship in 1790?

The Santa Saturnina had a crew of 22 men, but at just under 40 feet long, it’s hard to imagine how they would have slept in such cramped conditions. In addition to the crew, the boat had to hold ammunition, supplies in the hold and enough food for all the men. To top it off, it’s likely that a goat was also present on board to provide milk.

The Paintings of Gordon Miller

From viking ships, to whaling canoes and on to steam ships, Gordon Miller captures the beauty, danger and energy of nautical travel and adventure in all of his artworks. This project was especially indebted to Gordon for his dedication to unlocking the secrets of the Santa Saturnina, right down to the details on deck and below. Without his advice and expertise on the Santa Saturnina, not to mention his artistic skill in capturing the emotions of the ship's crew as they explored the Northwest Coast, this project would not have been possible. Visit Gordon's website to see more of his paintings and discover the fascinating history surrounding them: gordonmiller.ca